Playoffs schedule announced for WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Group A
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<p>The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) announced the schedule for Sunday's Playoffs of the <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2024-xviii-mens-softball-world-cup-group-a/home">WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Group A</a>. After the completion of the Opening Round, four teams will play for the two available spots in next year's <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2025-xviii-mens-softball-world-cup-finals/home">Finals in Prince Albert, Canada</a>.</p>
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<p>The top four teams in the Group A standings advanced to Sunday's playoffs where the top two sides in the standings will play each other for the ticket to the Finals. The loser of the first playoff game will then play against the winner of the game between third and fourth, for the second spot in the Finals.</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2024-xviii-mens-softball-world-cup-group-a/schedule-and-results"><img src="https://static.wbsc.org/assets/cms/shares/MSWC_Group_A_Bracket.jpg" alt="Men's Softball World Cop Group A Bracket" width="100%" height="auto"></a></p>
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<p>Venezuela clinched the No. 1 spot in the standings with a 5-0 record, followed by the Dominican Republic with a 3-2 card. Both teams will play at 17:00 at Mundialistas Hermosillenses Stadium with the winner punching their ticket to next year's Finals.</p>
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<p>After an exciting last day of the Opening Round, Australia, Mexico and Czechia finished with identical 2-3 records, therefore they were ranked according to <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2024-xviii-mens-softball-world-cup-group-a/news/wbsc-softball-world-cup-tournament-regulations-new-tie-break-system-starts-in-hermosillo">Team's Quality Balance</a>, the new tie-break system implemented for softball events this year. Australia and Mexico earned the third and fourth places, respectively, with Czechia in fifth.</p>
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<p>The Australians and Mexicans will face each other in an elimination game at 17:00, at Fernando Ortiz. </p>
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<p>The winner of this game will play against the loser between Venezuela and Dominican Republic for the second spot in the Finals. This game is scheduled at 21:00 at Fernando Ortiz Stadium.</p>
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<p>Czechia, which finished fifth place in the Opening Round, and Philippines will play for the fifth place at 20:00 at Mundialistas Hermosillenses Stadium.</p>
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<p>The XVIII Men's Softball World Cup is played under the <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/three-world-cups-136-games-to-be-played-under-two-stage-format-in-exciting-wbsc-international-softball-season">two stage format</a>, with Group A being played in Hermosillo, Group B scheduled from 10-14 July in Prince Albert, Canada; and Group C from 17-21 September in Oklahoma City.</p>
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<p>The top two teams in each group, plus two wild cards, will move to the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Finals next year, which is slated between 8-13 July 2025 in Prince Albert, Canada.</p>
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